If you are looking for a unique and extremely charming way to furnish your home, consider using Mediterranean furniture. It comes in a number of styles. Because the area is so diverse, you will have a multitude of looks from which to choose. The furniture is as eclectic as the region in which it can be found. Very few types of furniture can offer the rare combination of exotic look and simple style that have come to define Mediterranean furniture.

To understand the furniture that originates from this region, you need to first gain a knowledge of the area and its unique color patterns. These color schemes traditionally compliment the furniture that is found here. With several different cultures bordering the Mediterranean Sea, it is no wonder that each type of Mediterranean furniture and its accompanying color schemes vary a great deal from coast to coast.

For example, the traditional Greek color patterns focus on the fetching combination of blue and white. Most of the houses that border both the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea are whitewashed. The window covers and doors that are usually painted blue accentuate this look. The contrast is striking. Greek furniture tends to follow this pattern. Along with the blue and white colors often found in the region, it is most often simple-formed and highly functional. It also has a reputation for being extremely light. The Greeks have traditionally held a reputation for creating Mediterranean furniture that is practical.

As you might imagine, the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea offers an intriguing potpourri of colors and textures. The rocky terrain of the Atlas Mountains influences the style of the housing and the furniture of the region. The most dominant characteristic of African Mediterranean furniture and homes is terracotta. It makes up the interior and the exterior of most of these dwellings, as well as the furnishings inside and around the outside of these homes.

Finally, the Provence region offers the most colorful patterns of the major Mediterranean area. This is due to the region's breathtakingly picturesque scenes of olive gardens and vineyards. Some of the colors that make up the interior and exterior of the area's homes are dark greens and blues. Likewise, Mediterranean furniture most commonly associated with the Provence region is dark, yet colorful. A good example of this is the popular ironwork table. Its best use is as a green-colored addition to a living room. Like Greek furniture, most Mediterranean furniture pieces from this region are simple in form, yet extremely elegant.

Mediterranean furniture is unique in that different styles can be used in one room. For example, you can place an armchair in a room with a wooden or ceramic table. Add a few chairs and throw in some dark pillows and some ethnically diverse items, and you have a distinct flavor in the room. For a bedroom, always aim for a minimal use of furniture. A simple bed with cotton sheets and a chest of drawers will capture the essence of a Mediterranean bedroom.

Remember that the key characteristic of furniture from this region is its simplicity. This is its most endearing, and practical, quality. It is also one reason why you should consider decorating your home with Mediterranean furniture.